Heel stirrup assemblies



G. R. CHERVENKA HEEL STIRRUP ASSEMBLIES Nov. 5, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 12, 1965 INVENTOR GEORGE R. CHERVENKA WNW 5, 1968 G. R.CHERVENKA 3,409,287

HEEL STIRRUP ASSEMBLIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1965 INVENTORGEORGE R. CHERVENKA ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,409,287 HEELSTIRRUP ASSEMBLIES George R. Chervenka, St. Louis, Mo., assignor toAfliliated Hospital Products, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed July12, 1965, Ser. No. 471,345 16 Claims. (Cl. 269328) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A heel stirrup assembly mounted on a physicians examiningtable. The assembly includes a channel-like track secured to the tableand having a slide mounted therein. A bar is connected to the slide atone end for movement about two axes, and at its other end is providedwith a hinge-mounted heel stirrup. A height adjuster element is mountedon the table beyond the end of the track, and it includes a pair of legsof different heights which are rigidly affixed to one another so as toform a right angle. The height adjuster element is shiftable between twopositions, one in which the long leg is presented vertically and theother in which the short leg is presented vertically. The legs areprovided with upwardly opening notches for reception of the bar, whilethe bar is provided with downwardly presented notches for reception ofthe vertically presented leg.

This invention relates in general to heel stirrup assemblies forphysicians examining tables or other medical furniture and, moreparticularly, to heel stirrup assemblies adaptable for use with patientsof varying sizes.

Heretofore, for the diagnosis and treatment of female disorders, it hasbeen common practice to equip physicians examining tables with heelstirrups which are presented in outwardly and upwardly spaced relationto the table for reception of the patients heel. If the stirrup isrigidly secured to the table, it not only interferes with the physiciansmovements when not in use, but also becomes a dangerous protuberance.Tables have been developed having stirrups which fold back anddownwardly out of the way, thereby obviating the aforementioned defect.Tables equipped with such stirrups, however, often cannot adequatelyaccommodate patients of varying stature. For example, such stirrups maybe too high and widely spaced for a short patient, while being too lowand close together for a tall patient. Thus, the patient must oftenassume a position which is not only uncomfortable, but also does notlend itself to proper diagnosis.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to providephysicians examining tables having heel stirrups which are capable ofassuming a plurality of spaced positions beyond the examining table.

It is another object of the present invention to provide heel stirrupassemblies of the type stated which, when not in use, can be storedwithin the examining table so as not to obstruct the physiciansmovements.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide heelstirrup assemblies of the type stated which are attractive inappearance, rugged and durable in construction, and economical tomanufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view ofa physicians examining table showing the heel stirrup assemblies,constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention,mounted thereon, the right heel stirrup being operatively positioned soas to accommodate a patients right heel, and the left heel stirrup beingin the retracted position;

3,409,287 Patented Nov. 5, 1968 FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of theright heel stirrup assembly constructed in accordance with and embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partially broken away and in section,of a left heel stirrup assembly constructed in accordance with andembodying the present invention, and showing the bar engaging the outernotch in dotted lines;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a heel stirrup assemblyforming part of the present invention, and showing the heel stirrupfolded downwardly on top of the bar in dotted lines;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a heel stirrup assemblyforming part of the present invention and showing the bar in an elevatedposition; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to thedrawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, A designates heel stirrup assemblies which are secured to anexamining table T, the table T being illustrated and described in aco-pending application pertaining to such tables. For convenience ofreference, however, examining table T includes a cabinet section 1having a top cover 2. Hingedly secured to cabinet section 1 in upwardlyspaced relation to top cover 2 '15 a body supporting means 3 including aseat section 4.

Each of the stirrup assemblies A includes a track or slide channel 5having top and bottom walls 6, 7, respectively, connected along one oftheir transverse margins by a bight portion or vertical wall 8. Alongtheir opposite transverse margins the top wall 6 and bottom wall 7 areprovided with co-planar opposed vertical flanges 9. Near each of itsends, the top wall 6 is provided with a downwardly projecting pin 10,for purposes presently more fully appearing. Rigidly secured to theoutwardly pressented face of vertical wall 8 is a support channel 11which, in turn, is bolted or otherwise fastened to the top face of topcover 2.

By reference to FIG. 1, it can be seen that two slide channels 5 aresecured to the top cover 2 in parallel relation to the transverse sidemargins thereof and beneath the seat section 4 in close proximity to thetransverse side margins thereof. It should be noted that the slidechannels 5 may be fastened to the top cover 2 by any suitable method,the support channel 11 being described only for convenience ofillustration and not by way of limitation.

Since one stirrup assembly A is merely a mirror image of the other, thedescription of the stirrup assemblies A will continue by using referencenumerals directed to the left stirrup assembly A, that is to say, theone adapted to receive the patients left heel when he patient sits onthe seat section 4, it being assumed that anyone skilled in the artcould, without difiiculty, construct a right stirrup assembly A byreference to the description and FIG. 2 which is a plan view thereof.

The slide channel 5 accommodates a slide 12 including a moveable channel13 having a vertical bight portion 14 provided along its transversemargins with spaced parallel flanges 15. As will be noted by referenceto FIG. 6, the bight portion 14 and flanges 15 are sized respectively tofit vertically and laterally in the slide channels 5 whereby to permitlongitudinal sliding therein, but to preclude lateral removal of theslide 12 therefrom. Facewise welded to the outwardly presented face ofbight portion 14 of moveable channel 13 and projecting outwardlytherefrom between the opposed flanges 9 of slide channels 5 is a spacerelement 16. Welded to the opposite face of spacer element 16 so as to bepresented in outwardly spaced parallel relation to the opposed flanges 9is a bar 3 17. Slide 12 is centrally drilled in the provision of a bore18 which rotatably accepts a hinge stud 19.

Hinge stud 19 includes an enlarged body portion 20 provided with twoopposed parallel flattened lands 21 which are centrally drilled toaccept a pin 22. Projecting from body portion 20 perpendicular to theaxis of the pin 22 in the formation of a shoulder 23 is a threaded shank24 which is sized to fit rotatably within the bore 18, the shoulder 23being in rotatable abutment with the outer face of the bar 17. The hingestud 19 is held within the slide 12 by spring Washer 25 and a nut 26,which fit within the confines of slide channels 5 and moveable channel13. Thus, slide 12 with hinge stud 19 projecting outwardly therefrom isfree to move longitudinally within slide channels 5, endwise removalthereof being prevented by pins 10 which strike the upper flange 15.

Hingedly secured to the hinge stud 19 by pin 22 is a stirrup bar 27provided with a yoke 28 which slidably receives the lands 21 and isdrilled to accommodate the pin 22. At its opposite end on each of itslaterally presented side faces, the bar 27 is provided with upwardlypresented fork-forming elements 29 which are fitted with a pin 29, theaxis of the pin 29 being in spaced perpendicular relation to the axis ofthe pin 22. Intermediate its ends the bar 27 is bent slightly inwardlytoward the plane defined by the vertical wall 8 of slide channels 5 andon its downwardly presented face, that is to say, the downwardlypresented face as seen in FIG. 4, is provided with a plurality ofnotches 30 for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Journaled on the pin 29 for limited rotation thereon above the bar 27 isa heel stirrup 31 provided with an aperture 32 sized to accommodate apatients heel and integrally including a shank 33 which fits slidablybetween the fork-forming elements 29 where it receives the pin 29'. Atits free end the shank 33 is squared off in the formation of an abutment34 which bears against the upper face of bar 27 whereby to precluderotation of the stirrup beyond an angle approximately 90 to thecenterline of bar 27. As illustrated in FIG. 4, heel stirrup 31 foldsdown onto the upper face of bar 27, when not 1n use.

Provided for cooperation with bar 27 is a stirrup height adjuster 35which is operatively secured to the upper face of top cover 2 beyond,but in close proximity to, the end of slide channels 5. Stirrup heightadjuster 35 includes hinge leaves 36, 37 which are joined by a hinge pin38, the hinge leaf 36 being bolted or otherwise securely fastened to thetop cover 2 so that the axis of hinge pin 38 is perpendicular to theplane defined by the vertical wall 8. Rigidly fastened to the moveableleaf 37, is an angled adjuster element 39 having a short plate or leg 40and a long plate or leg 41, the legs 40, 41 being perpendicularlydisposed to each other. The common margins of the legs 40, 41 areparallel and in close proximity to the hinge pin 38 as best seen in FIG.5. Opposite their common margins the legs 40, 41 are provided with aplurality of notches 42 which are sized to receive the bar 27.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be observed that the height adjuster35 is capable of assuming two positions, that is to say, a firstposition wherein the short leg 40 is presented vertically, and a secondposition wherein the long leg 41 is presented vertically. In the firstposition hinge leaves 36, 37 are in facewise abutment, while in thesecond position the short leg 40 is in facewise abutment with the topcover 2. Since the bar 27 is partially supported on the height adjuster35, its height must necessarily depend on the position of adjusterelement 39.

At this juncture it should be noted that the right heel stirrup assemblyA is a mirror image of the left heel stirrup assembly A. Thedifferences, which become obvious when one compares FIGS. 2 and 3, areslight and limited to an opposite bend in stirrup bar 27 and an oppositedisposition of slide channels 5 and support channel 11 on the top cover2.

When stirrup assembly A is not in use, the heel stirrup 31 is foldeddown on the top face of bar 12, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG.4, and the bar 27 is pushed inwardly on the slide 12 until the heelstirrup 31 is beneath the seat section 4. The adjuster element 39 is setso that the short leg 38 is presented upwardly and the bar 27 ispermitted to engage the center notch of the notches 42. In such positionthe stirrup 31 and the bar 27 are housed beneath the seat section 4 and,consequently, do not protrude beyond the end of the table where theywould otherwise interfere with the movement of the physician.

When the physician desires to use heel stirrup assembly A, he need onlypull the bar 27 outwardly from its retracted position until one of thenotches 42 of adjuster element 39 engages the notches 30 of bar 27. Theheel stirrup 31 is then swung upwardly until the abutment 34 bearsagainst the upper face of bar 27. Subsequently, the position of heelstirrups 31 in space beyond the end of examining table T is adjusted byusing various combinations of notches 30 and 42. For example, toincrease the lateral distance between the left and right heel stirrups31, the bars 27 are placed in the outer notches 42. To increase thedistance which the stirrups 31 are presented beyond the end of the tableT, the notches 30 on the bar 27 which are closer to the hinge stud 19are used. The height of stirrup 31 above the floor can be raised byusing the notches 42 of the long leg 41 or, in other words, having thelong leg 41 presented vertically. Thus, the heel stirrups 31 are capableof assuming a multitude of positions in space beyond the end ofexamining table T whereby to correctly accommodate patients of varyingstature.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of theheel stirrup assemblies may be made and substituted for those hereinshown and described without departing from the nature and principle ofmy invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. A heel stirrup assembly for medical furniture, said heel stirrupassembly comprising a track secured to said furniture, a slide slidablycarried by said track, a bar hingedly secured at one end to said slideand provided with a heel stirrup at its opposite end, and a supportcarried by the furniture for engaging the bar in spaced relation to theslide so that said heel stirrup is held in spaced relation to saidfurniture.

2. A heel stirrup assembly for medical furniture, said heel stirrupassembly comprising a track secured to said furniture, a slide slidablycarried by said track, a bar hingedly secured at one end to said slideand provided with a heel stirrup at its opposite end, and a supportmounted on the furniture and adapted to engage the bar in spacedrelation to the hinged juncture of the slide and bar so that the heelstirrup is held in spaced relation to said furniture.

3. A heel stirrup assembly for medical furniture, said heel stirrupassembly comprising a track secured to said furniture, a slide slidablycarried by said track, a bar pivotally secured at one end to said slideand provided with a heel stirrup at its opposite end, and adjustingmeans carried by the furniture for engaging the bar in a plurality oflocations thereon which are located in spaced relation to the pivotalconnection of the slide and bar so that said heel stirrup is held in anyone of a plurality of positions in spaced relation to said furniture.

4. A heel stirrup assembly for medical furniture, said heel stirrupassembly comprising a track secured to said furniture, a slide slidablycarried by said track, a bar hingedly secured at one end to said slidefor movement about two axes, said bar being provided with a heel stirrupat its other end, and adjusting means mounted on the furniture andhaving a plurality of upwardly opening notches adapted to receive thebar in spaced relation from the hinged juncture of the bar and slide sothat said heel stirrup is held in any one of a plurality of positions inspaced relation to said furniture.

5. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examining table,said heel stirrup assembly comprising a track secured to said examiningtable, a slide slidably carried by said track, a bar pivotally securedat one end to said slide, a heel stirrup secured to said bar at itsopposite end, said bar being provided intermediate its ends with aplurality of notches, and adjusting means for optionally holding saidheel stirrup in a plurality of positions in spaced relation to saidtable, said adjusting means being adapted to engage said notches.

6. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examining table,said heel stirrup assembly comprising a slide means, a bar pivotallysecured at one end to said slide means and provided with a heel stirrupat its opposite end, and an upstanding plate secured to said table forsupporting said bar intermediate its ends, said plate being providedwith a plurality of upwardly presented notches for engaging said bar.

7. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examining table,said heel stirrup assembly comprising a slide means, a bar pivotallysecured at one end to said slide means and provided with a heel stirrupat its opposite end, said bar being provided with a plurality of notchesintermediate its ends, and an upstanding plate secured to said table forsupporting said bar intermediate its ends, said plate being sized toengage said notches.

8. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examining table,said heel stirrup assembly comprising a slide means, a bar pivotallysecured at one end to said slide means and provided with a heel stirrupat its opposite end, and an upstanding plate secured to said table forsupporting said bar intermediate its ends, said plate being providedwith a plurality of notches sized to engage said bar whereby to precludepivotal movement of said bar on said plate, said bar being provided witha plurality of notches sized to engage said upstanding plate whereby topreclude longitudinal movement of said bar on said slide means.

9. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examining table,said heel stirrup assembly comprising a slide means, a bar pivotallysecured at one end to said slide means and provided with a heel stirrupat its opposite end, a hinge means secured to said table, and a heightadjuster element fastened to said hinge means for supporting said barintermediate its ends, said height adjuster element including first andsecond legs, said height adjuster element being adapted to move on saidhinge means from a first position wherein said first leg is presented inupstanding relation to said table to a second position wherein saidsecond leg is presented in upstanding relation to said table whereby tosupport said stirrup at different heights in spaced relation to saidtable.

10. A heel stirrup assembly according to claim 9 in which said first andsecond legs are provided with a plurality of notches sized to engagesaid bar whereby to preclude horizontal pivotal movement of said bar.

11. A heel stirrup assembly according to claim 9 in which said first andsecond legs are provided with a plurality of notches sized to engagesaid bar whereby to preclude horizontal pivotal movement of said bar,and said bar is provided with a plurality of notches sized to engagesaid first leg or second leg, whichever is upstanding, whereby topreclude longitudinal movement of said bar on said slide means.

12. A heel stirrup assembly forming part of a physicians examiningtable, said heel stirrup assembly comprising a substantially straighttrack secured to said examining table, a slide slidably carried by saidtrack, a bar pivotally secured at one end to said slide and providedwith a heel stirrup at its opposite end, a hinge including first andsecond leaves held together by a hinge pin, said first leaf beingrigidly fastened to said table in close proximity to said track so thatthe axis of said hinge pin is perpendicular to a vertical plane definedby the longitudinal centerline of said track, and a height adjusterelement fastened to said second leaf for supporting said barinter-mediate its ends, said height adjuster element including first andsecond legs, said height adjuster element being adapted to move on saidhinge from a first position wherein said first leg is presented inupstanding relation to said table to a second position wherein saidsecond leg is presented in upstanding relation to said table whereby tosupport said stirrup at different heights in spaced relation to saidtable.

13. A heel stirrup assembly according to claim 12 in which said firstand second legs are provided with a plurality of notches sized to engagesaid bar whereby to preclude horizontal pivotal movement of said bar.

14. A heel stirrup assembly according to claim 12 in which said firstand second legs are provided with a plurality of notches sized to engagesaid bar whereby to preclude horizontal pivotal movement of said bar,and said bar is provided with a plurality of notches sized to engagesaid first leg or second leg, whichever is upstanding with respect tosaid table, whereby to preclude longitudinal movement of said bar onsaid slide means.

15. A heel stirrup assembly for a physicians examining table; said heelstirrup assembly comprising a track secured to the examining table, aslide slidably carried by the track, a bar pivotally secured at one endto the slide, a heel stirrup hingedly connected to the opposite end ofthe bar, and adjusting means for optionally holding the heel stirrup ina plurality of positions in spaced relation to the table.

16. A heel stirrup assembly for medical furniture; said heel stirrupassembly comprising a bar, a heel stirrup On one end of the bar,mounting means on the furniture and being in engagement with the bar,the mounting means affording extensible movement of the bar with respectto the furniture, and an upstanding adjusting member carried by thefurniture in spaced relation to the mounting means for engagement withthe bar, the adjusting member having a plurality of upwardly openingnotches adapted to receive the bar, said bar being provided with aplurality of downwardly opening notches which engage the adjustingmember whereby the heel stirrup can be supported in a plurality ofpositions in spaced relation to the furniture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/ 1957 Spielberg 269--328 8/1963Adolphson 297--430

